The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-03-05

Inc gOOu LIZ. WIFI u |
somewhat different intent utters words
which bear special weight in support of |
the conclusion which l would reach.
He says: 1.-THE defect in the salvation
offered by the great revivalists is that it |
is no salvation, rejecting no honor on
the soul that might share it, and no
long rising of joy liz its requirement.
1t is the requirement of an evening, of
a moment,-the swift work Of the spir-
it ON the heart, all accomplished and
sealed between rising from the tea-ta-
BILE and retiring to the nights rest. At
the close of meeting professional re-
vivalist will count up the souls that
have got salvation since the service was
opened. But while the thoughtless are
happy for little while in their fancied
possession, that they have got, they
know not how certainly not by any
toll or merit of their own after time
they awake to the meagerness of their
spiritual wealth, and see how poor is
the crown to which they are entitled,
and turn away in sadness or in disgust.
The prize is not golden and solid and
jewel to be worn with high sense of
honor, but it is only glittering void.
The fact is, conferred saintship is no
more possible than a machine-made
poem, or heroism that is compelled;
for God has not made an exception
of the soul in subjecting man to the
law of education and growth. He has
not left the spirit out in Harvesting
the powers Of man to the chariot of
culture, but has asked it also to make
its own the delights and honors of trav-
ersing the highway of self-improve-
ment and growth" To me it seems
impossible that thoughtful, soulful
man would withhold his commentator
to these words. They touch so clearly
the truth, that conviction naturally fol-
lows their utterance.
But to briefly illustrate the principle
I seek to convey, let us give little at
tention to three qualities of religion nec-
essary to all religions, and see whether
it is true or not, that continuity is nee
essary for the transformation of the
soul, from the confinement of sin to the
liberty of righteousness. These quail
ties are faithfulness, hopefulness, love.
1. Can one affirm who is faithless,
that from the next moment he will be
ever faithful ? He cannot truthfully
do so. The most he can affirm is, that
from the next moment he will do his
best to become so. He may succeed in
bringing his body to continually obey
the behests of this determination, and
in doing this he will be working as
hero, but frequently will his spirit fail
him. Habits cannot be broken in
second. Though we bend the body to
obey law set up by the will, the old
longing will assert itself time and time
again. The soul cannot at once rise
into that royal atmosphere, where it
can faithfully mediate on the eternal
glories of the good 1t has bowed so
much to the behests Of indulgence, that
it must needs bend again and again.
The will power may stubbornly endure
to the end, but by slow stages the spirit
of man grows into larger and still
larger freedom, till it is sure of itself
in every emergency, and would as soon
think of the blue sky of heaven becom-
ing sullied with the SCOT of earth, as
that it should be contaminated with
sensuous sin again. Do objections rise
against this position, and are instances
marshalled to support them ? Do you
say that on a sudden man develops
faithfulness for country, home, God
Not an instance do know of this kind
when an analysis Of the case will not
reveal, either long development of the
soul in these directions, or else soul
far short of true faithfulness. In the
first place, it is not every soldier who
fights, or loses his life, who is truly
faithful to bis country. Many one
with cowardly heart, selfish motives,
thirst for blood OF mood of despair has
found soldiers grave. How can one
say that he will prove faithful when he
enters the ranks and shoulders his rife?
He cannot. Trial must come first, and
then many a one who has entered the
battle with stout assertions and I'M
throbbing heart would cut and run if
he could. IT'S only the patriot whose
noble soul has been kindled at the altar
of his country, who can face every dan
ger and die with faithful soldier heart.
Two things are necessary here. One
is devotion to ones national home, and
the other is the trial which proves and
develops it. First be loyal, and through
all emergencies continue loyal, and into
the large freedom of the faithful you
come. The soul in religion is under
the same rule. Devotion to God and
the good may have touched you with
it holy fire, but trial must test its con-
stancy, and if that fire be quenched in
your heart by the dark waters of faith
lessness, it will not be the first instance
recorded when the test has been too
severe for the devotion within.